Sasha DiGiulian Makes First Female Ascent of Bellavista (5.14b) in the Dolomites

Sasha DiGiulian is making headlines yet again with the first female ascent of Bellavista, a multipitch 5.14b climb in the Dolomites of Northern Italy. According to DiGiulian’s Facebook page, she and Spanish climber Edu Marin made the summit of Cima Ovest di Lavaredo yesterday. Completing the route represents the fulfillment of a “two-year dream” for DiGiulian. In an email with Rock and Ice, DiGiulian explained that she sent the 5.14b pitch on her second try of the third day and flashed the 5.13b, but had to descend because it was getting too late. She returned the next day and sent every pitch to the top.

Bellavista was first established by Alex Huber in 1999 as an aid line. Two years later, he returned and managed to redpoint the route after working the various pitches for several weeks. The route has five pitchesof 5.12 or harder climbing, including a huge, roof-traverse crux,which is rated 5.14b. Since Huber’s first ascent, the route has seen repeats by David Llama, Dani Moreno, Mauro Bole, and others.

DiGiulian has been crushing headlines this summer, establishing two hard routes in South Africa, Rolihlahla (which she originally graded 5.14b but others who have repeated the route have suggested a lower grade of 5.14a or even 5.13d) and Mis-Behaving (5.14a), winning the Psicobloc Masters Series event in Park City, Utah on August 2nd, and on-sighting Pole Position (5.13c), which Rock and Icereported yesterday.

Reader's Commentary:

Don't want to use Facebook, but still want to comment? We have you covered: